Saturday, November 16, 2013

Stella (not her real name) came to see me in September 2008 because she had osteoarthritis in her right knee, swelling due to a Baker's cyst (a benign swelling found behind the knee joint); and she had quite a bit of pain. Her family doctor told her all that the only thing that could be done was to take analgesics for the pain, and ice on the knee. She could also have a steroid shot in the knee.

Stella was taking the analgesics, and her stomach was feeling terrible. She wanted to know if she could get relief with EFT. I told her we could work on the emotional components of her pain and arthritis and that it might or might not be a one minute miracle. We've been having sessions once a week since mid September 2008 (we're in mid-November), her pain was at a 9 and her leg was quite swollen from the knee down to her ankle when we started. Some of the phrases we have tapped on include:

Even if I have this burning pain in my right knee Even if I was dismayed to hear I had develop osteoarthritis Even if I have osteoarthritis Even if the doctor smiled as she gave me the diagnosis Even if the doctor told me this will never be cured Even if the doctor doesn't want to be bothered by my symptoms Even if my knee is sore when I wake up in the morning Even if I can't sit crossed legged anymore

We were not getting much relief, when she mentioned that when she called her mother, to share what the doctor had said, her mother was ecstatic!

Even if my mother was happy that I developed osteoarthritis Even if I can hear the glee in her voice Even if I'm scared I'm going to end up as crippled by arthritis as she is Even if I swore I wouldn't be like her, and now I have her disease

We also tapped on her "worst" mother memory. At the end of the session, Stella's pain had gone down to a 6, and her leg was still swollen.

By now, I was intrigued on why we were making so little progress. The next session, I invited Stella to close her eyes and imagine she was going inside her knee. She drank an "invisible shrinking potion" (she's a Harry Potter fan) and went into the knee accompanied by Professor Dumbledore as backup support. She described the inside of her knee as a cavern that was very red, with a pipe that was tied up in a knot and leaking some liquid goo that was just lying there.

Even if the cavern looks very red. Even if the pipe is tied up in a knot Even if the pipe is dripping liquid goo Even if this liquid goo is just lying there

Then I asked what emotion she felt as she looked around. She said she felt she was choking, and there was sadness.

We tapped for the choking and the sadness, and what came up was a memory of her dad saying goodbye to her and telling her that he and her mom were getting a divorce, and she had never cried and kept it all in. Stella had been 7 at the time, she didn't have anyone to talk to and felt she had to be brave.

We tapped on: Even if Daddy is saying goodbye, I was such a good girl. Even if I was so sad, and confused and lonely Even if I didn't want Daddy to leave Even if Daddy looks so sad He's holding his hat in his hands Even if I was brave, I now choose to express my sadness. Even if I was choked up, I can now express how I feel

Stella was connecting for the first time to all the feelings she had buried about the experience, and expressing them as we did round after round.

Even if I am so incredibly sad Even if I feel so hurt Even if I feel so lonely Even if I feel that I did something to cause this

After this session, the pain went down to 0, and the swelling was reduced by 80%. Also, she said that the inside of her knee now looked pink and shiny. There was a lot less goo on the floor, and the pipe looked straight and normal.

We have continued working on that event, and included her relationship with her mother during her parents divorce. Stella can now go up and down the stairs without pain, and she can sit cross legged for short periods. She still has some swelling on her knee; the Baker's cyst has not completely disappeared, there has been a huge improvement and we're still tapping!

As of January, 2009, her swelling and pain have completely disappeared. She can kneel once more and sit cross-legged! She has been tapping every day and doing sessions once a week!

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is an average phrase applied to inflammatory procedures from the important joints and muscle groups. It's actually a complicated disorder that consists of more than a hundred specific conditions which enables it to have an effect on men and women at any stage of life. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may be caused from strains and traumas a result of recurring movements, sports, and over exertion. Arthritic bones are usually responsive to climate differences. The raised sensitivity is perceived as brought on by the infected important joints developing extra nerve endings so as to guard the joint from further deterioration.

The various factors behind rheumatoid arthritis may include hormone discrepancy, Physical and emotional pressure and inherited conditions.Many think that it truly is caused by mentally or physically demanding hard work, carried out in unpleasant climatic conditions and irritated by moist, ill-heated residences. Lacking of vitamins such as calcium, magnesium, protein are also the elements to blame for osteoarthritis.

Lacking any arthritis bracelets, many people endure hardships needlessly. If a person suffers from the awful malady of rheumatoid arthritis, you know how it will eventually control your every single activity and movements. Uncomplicated daily assignments become a chore even on the better of occasions. An rheumatoid arthritis bracelets can help you reunite the motion you used to have just before this condition took over your joints.

You will find generally 2 bracelet types for rheumatoid arthritis include both magnetic and copper materials. It is a non-invasive treatment and its particular healing features have already been experienced first hand by numerous people across the world.

There seem to be several advantages to wearing these healing bracelet, however there are also some people who are cynical as to the benefits.Some individuals claim wonderful benefits while others tend not to observe a significant improvement. It is unattainable to tell what help you will have until you have tried. Remember, you must be certain you don't have a copper hypersensitivity before putting on a copper osteoarthritis band as a small amount of copper can quite possibly be absorbed by your skin. For the majority of people this is not a challenge, but it is best to be certain beforehand. The magnetic version is intended to get rid of pain in infected parts by boosting blood circulation and introducing a negative polarity. Decreased inflammation may result also.

To conclude our findings, these healing accessories will be an aid to make improvements to your life quality while relieving pains from your joints in the same time. Have you thought to give it a try today?

As we get older our bodies have a tendency to become less cooperative, and things we could do effortlessly in our twenties and thirties become more of a physical challenge.

For some, this translates to a higher level of soreness and joint pain following a round of strenuous activity. For others, the weakening of knees, backs and hips make us less mobile than in our younger days.

For many others, the advancement of years is marked by the onset of Arthritis.

Arthritis is defined by the inflammation of one or more joints resulting in swelling, stiffness and pain, causing limitations of movement.

The irony of aging is that the various infirmaries that besiege our bodies in the advancing years often do nothing to diminish our desires to accomplish new goals and tackle new challenges.

We still dream. We still have mountains to climb. We still have unfulfilled passions.

So the question is - should the onslaught of arthritis prevent us from finally realizing our dreams of learning how to play guitar? Should we allow our un-cooperative body to rob us of the joys of making music?

The answer is - absolutely not!

If you are suffering from arthritis but still have a desire to learn how to play guitar, what can you do?

First off, if your arthritis is minor, or in the early stages, playing guitar may actually help.

Many of my students tell me that the physical act of playing guitar, and exercising the joints of the hands, fingers and wrists, have made improvements to their condition.

They say that, although there was the typical discomfort and soreness in the early stages (that all new guitarists experience), over time and with daily practice, the pain and swelling of their arthritis was reduced.

But what if your arthritis is more advanced and debilitating, making the normal formation of guitar chords nearly impossible?

Here are a couple of solutions to consider:

1. Tune your guitar to an open chord and play it using the Dolly Parton "one finger" method.

If you have ever watched a close up of Dolly Parton playing guitar, the first thing you will notice is the length of her fingernails. They're daggers!

This makes playing guitar by traditional means out of the question. There is no way to press the finger tips down on the frets of the guitar with three inch nails.

How does she still manage to play guitar?

Simple. She tunes the guitar to an open chord, often an "E" chord, and plays guitar by laying just one finger across the fret board.

In an open "E" tuning, you can strum the guitar without touching the frets, and you are playing an E chord.

An open E tuning looks like this:

E B E G# B E

To accomplish this tuning from a standard tuning, all you have to do is raise the 5th string (A) up to a "B" note. The 4th string (D) is raised to an E note, and the 3rd string (G) is raised to a G # (sharp). The other three strings remain the same.

Then all you have to do to play the guitar is to place one finger directly across all the strings at any fret to play full chords.

The chord you are playing is determined by the fret position. If you lay one finger across the 3rd fret, you are playing a G chord. Slide that up to the 5th fret and you are playing an A chord, etc.

2. Another solution is to play guitar using a slide.

A slide is an object made of metal or glass that fits over a finger. You play the guitar with a slide by lightly pressing down on the strings at the desired location.

You can use the slide in conjunction with an open tuning (as discussed above) and, when you do, almost anything you play on the guitar will "sound right".

If your arthritis is advanced but you still want to play guitar, try one or both of these methods and see if they make things easier.

You don't have to let the aging process keep you from experiencing the pleasures of making music and playing guitar. Sometimes we just have to work around a few roadblocks to get there!

Disclaimer - Due to the insanely litigious society we live in, I do have to clearly state that I am NOT a doctor (just a humble guitar player), and I am NOT offering medical advice. If you are concerned about how playing guitar may affect your physical condition, please be sure to consult your physician!

There are over one hundred different types of arthritis, and every type falls into one of two distinct categories: degenerative or inflammatory. The most prevalent type of degenerative arthritis by far is osteoarthritis, which accounts for about 80 per cent of all arthritis and affects tens of millions of people around the world. The most prevalent type of inflammatory arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which afflicts roughly one or two in one hundred people. If you have ever seen pictures of an active volcano, then you know how lava keeps spewing forth, spreading out beyond itself and forming land that was not there before. Think of the production of cartilage as you would a very slow lava flow. A layer of specialized cells called chondrocytes slowly secrete a particular cartilage gel. The cartilage gel is made up of two different types of materials. One is collagen, which is akin to strong "ropes" and provides the cartilage with its scaffolding. The other type of material in cartilage goes under the heading proteoglycans. These are little elasticized "springs" that connect the "ropes". They are crucial because they dam up water between them, providing the joint with elasticity and its ability to slide easily. Water also provides foolproof cushioning.

It can not be compressed, but it can easily be squeezed from place to place, which means it can even out the pressure in cartilage by flowing from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure. The process of distributing pressure throughout a joint works as follows: When you put a load on a joint, say, by walking or gripping something with your hand, muscles in the area move the bones, which in turn compress the cartilage. Specifically, it is the springs inside the cartilage that are compressing. This squeezes the water out from between the springs from the middle of the joint to the edges, which, in turn, allows the pressure of the movement to be evenly applied across the joint. After the movement is completed, the water flows back between the springs, ready for the next step or grip and with age, you lose some of the springs-and, therefore, some of the elasticity. The springs that remain, eventually become more brittle and less springy. In some people, the joint wear and tear of a lifetime leads to osteoarthritis; in others, it does not. It can not be predicted with certainty who will end up with osteoarthritis and who will not. But there are some risk factors that make a lot of people far more prone to developing the disease.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative bone disease, which is recognized by the symptoms of painful, inflamed and stiff joints. This is generally thought to be caused by accumulated damage to the connective tissues that the body can no longer efficiently repair, which is why most of the people affected are of more advanced years. While injuries, disease and general wear and tear of the connective tissues are factors that increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis, the exact causes are yet unknown.

Because of this, there is no known cure to osteoarthritis, and most treatments instead seek to relieve the symptoms of the disease. This usually allows most people with osteoarthritis the ability to live relatively normal lives, despite having the disease.

Conventional medicine's first approach is to prescribe analgesics to deal with the pain, while anti-inflammatory medication may also be prescribed to deal with any inflammation in the joints. Stiffness and the loss of mobility are treated with physical therapy, and most will also be advised to follow a regimen of moderate exercise to strengthen surrounding muscles. These methods are usually very effective, though more extreme cases may require other steps, such as surgical replacement of the joint.

Aside from conventional methods, alternative natural methods of treatment are also available. These methods include a wide range of disciplines within the classification of alternative medicine, including but not limited to herbal medicine, acupuncture, and the use of natural supplements. In general, conventional medicine does not advocate the use of alternative methods, though some doctors are beginning to accept the use of some alternative methods.

Despite the lack of support from conventional doctors and medical professionals, alternative natural remedies for osteoarthritis continue to be used, with a growing number of affected individuals admitting to have at least tried out these remedies. In fact, a good number claim to continue to use alternative methods, and testify to the effectiveness of various natural methods.

Why do these people choose to use natural remedies to treat their osteoarthritis? Here are some of the most common reasons:

1. More Practical: In some cases, these natural remedies are considered more practical, as well as economical. Many natural methods advocate the use of remedies that are readily available at home, reducing the expense of treating osteoarthritis. Many of those same methods are also easy to take, or apply, with little need for special instructions or even equipment. In some cases, even using natural supplements for treatment can cost substantially less than prescription drugs.

2. Safe To Use: Most people who take natural remedies for osteoarthritis perceive these remedies to be safer to use than conventional drugs and medications. Most conventional medications, specially those which are more potent in nature, carry with them risks of harmful side effects, particularly through long-term use. Generally speaking, most alternative natural methods do not have such harmful side effects, or if they do, they are relatively minor when compared to the risks carried by conventional drugs.

3. Healthier: The growing perception of many people today is that "natural" equates to "healthy" and that carries over to the remedies and methods used to treat osteoarthritis. While this is not always the case, the fact is that a good number of natural remedies are healthier for the body. Herbal remedies, for example, may also include vitamins and minerals that the body needs, and are also often used to treat more than one condition as well.

4. They Are Effective: Perhaps the best reason that natural remedies are used to treat osteoarthritis symptoms is the fact that they are effective. This is after all the bottom line in any arthritis treatment, and the bottom line for anybody who has arthritis. Proof of their effectiveness may come in the form of a few tests and studies, or even from testimonies of others with arthritis, but for many, these are enough reason to believe that they are effective.

To understand arthritis it is important to understand the definition of the word. "Arth" from the latin word arthro means joint. "Itis" means inflammation. Therefore, Arthritis simply means inflammation of a joint. There are many diseases that are classified under the term arthritis. There are many different types of arthritis. The most common type that affects most people in their life time is osteoarthritis.

The term osteoarthritis carries many different names. Some of these include degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and spondylosis if it is in the spine. Osteoarthritis is basically a condition that is defined as wearing out of cartilage that lines joint surfaces.

When joint cartilage is damaged, the sensitive bone tissue that is usually protected by the cartilage, becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. The bone around the joint may jut out causing osteophytes, more commonly called bone spurs. Bone spurs can irritate other things around the joint complicating the problem. This may include nerve irritation which can be a cause of pain associated with osteoarthritis.

The most common areas of the body to be affected by osteoarthritis include the lower neck, low back, knees, hips and fingers. The symptoms of DJD include stiffness or pain in the joints involved. Symptoms may also include referred pain. An example of this would be pain, numbness or tingling into the legs. This could be caused from arthritic joints in the low back irritating sensitive nerves which extend from the low back into the legs.

The best management for osteoarthritis is prevention and taking care of the joints involved. One should make sure that when joints are injured, they are taken care of as soon as possible to avoid the development of arthritis in the joints affected. If not taken care of, the joints can become unstable causing the cartilage in the joints to wear out faster than normal.

Degenerative arthritis affects most people over the age of 50. People often say "it is just part of getting old." Unfortunately many people accept being in pain thinking they are just too old. It is interesting to note that osteoarthritis always develops in specific joints and not evenly through the entire body. For example, a person may have one arthritic knee and not two, or they may have arthritis in the lower neck and not the entire spine. If degenerative arthritis were just caused from getting old, it would affect all of the joints in the body equally. The majority of elderly have joints in their body without any arthritis at all. The reason only some joints are affected is because of stress or injury to those joints.

Chiropractic helps to restore motion and proper mechanics in joints that are injured or affected by arthritis. Chiropractic can prevent or slow the degenerative process in joints. Studies have even shown a reversal of degenerative arthritis through chiropractic care. Chiropractic gets to the cause of the problem rather than just treat the symptoms associated with arthritis.

Chiropractors work to prevent arthritis by performing specific hands on adjustments to correct joints that are not in their proper alignment. This helps to restore proper motion to the joints and prevents the joints from becoming unstable. Proper motion is essential to preventing arthritis. It not only helps the joints to glide properly, but also allows them to receive essential nutrients and hydration.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Are your aches and pains just a natural part of growing older, or are they a sign there is something more serious wrong with your body? While some forms of arthritis are just the result of the aging process, some forms can wreak havoc on more than just the joints. Other forms actually result from the body's immune system turning on itself. How can you tell if your joint pain is natural aging or if something else is wrong? Knowing the symptoms of different forms of arthritis can help you know if a pain reliever is all you need, or if your specific arthritis symptom is a sign there is more wrong than just joint pain.

The most common form of arthritis is known as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the form of arthritis generally associated with growing older. This condition results from the natural aging process in which the cartilage, a rubbery substance that protects the joints, begins to wear down. The arthritis symptom most often associated with this form of the disease is joint pain. This joint pain can also be accompanied by fever and swelling in the affected joints as well as stiffness in the morning or after times of inactivity.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that can strike the young and old alike. Like osteoarthritis, the main arthritis symptom associated with rheumatoid arthritis is joint pain. Unlike osteoarthritis, however, rheumatoid arthritis is caused when the body's immune system turns on the body and begins to attack the joints. Those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can also expect to experience joint fever and stiffness. In the long term, rheumatoid arthritis can cause deformity of the joints. The disease can also cause nodules, or raised lumps, to appear in places such as the hands. In addition to these symptoms, however, those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can also have extreme fatigue, lack of appetite, and low grade fever throughout the body. Unlike those suffering from osteoarthritis, those who have rheumatoid arthritis can experience times of remission where they are basically symptom free.

Another form of arthritis characterized by the main arthritis symptom of joint pain is psoriatic arthritis. Other symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include raised, red, scaly areas of the skin. Unlike either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis can also affect major organ of the body such as the heart and lungs. Untreated, heart damage resulting from psoriatic arthritis can result in heart failure and ultimately, death. In this disease, arthritis strikes the cartridge and tendons as well as the joints of the body. The psoriasis associated with the disease generally precedes the arthritis symptoms by several months to several years.

As you can see, the main arthritis symptom associated with most forms of this debilitating condition is joint pain and stiffness. With varying forms of the disease, symptoms can range from fever, loss of appetite, psoriasis and fatigue. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor can decide what treatment options are best for you to keep your disease from becoming debilitating or life-threatening.

Many people suffer for years with lower back pain and eventually find some relief from various pain killers. I have eliminated or substantially reduced approaches prescribed by my pain management specialist. The difference is daily exercise for back pain relief.

My pain story is not unique. Several years ago, my doctor determined I had two herniated discs and osteoarthritis in the lumbar area. The discs and the inflammation of the osteoarthritis restricted a channel and pinched the sciatic nerve. The result was severe lower back pain, coupled with sciatic nerve pain. Over a number of years, I progressed from shots in the lower back, to an implanted neurostimulator, to a variety of pain medications. Most recently, the pain medications consisted of two narcotic drugs, one on an as-needed basis, and one for 24-hour maintenance. The physical and emotional effects of the medications substantially changed the quality of my life. I wanted to get rid of those medications, even if I had to live with the pain.

A friend with sciatic nerve pain told me a physical therapist helped him eliminate the pain through a daily exercise program. My pain management specialist agreed to write a prescription for the physical therapist of my choice, and I started a new life.

After the therapist completed his evaluation, he told me two important things. First, a significant amount of lower back pain is the direct result of unused and out-of-shape muscles. Get those muscles in shape, keep them in shape, and most of the pain should disappear. Second, the exercises would not help the pain caused by the bone and osteoarthritis issues. In other words, an exercise program will eliminate muscle pain, while leaving the real source of my lower back pain- herniated discs and osteoarthritis.

Over four weeks, he worked me on a routine of eight exercises and bike riding using a recumbent bike. The exercises worked the muscles in the legs, thighs, hamstrings, buttocks, and lower back. I continued these exercises every day at home.

Miracles never cease. My wife says she can see me move with more vitality and energy, and I feel better. I can easily affirm my energy level is higher and my enthusiasm for getting out of bed each day is much improved.

Here are the results with which I am most pleased. The 24-hour narcotic is gone, the as-needed narcotic is reduced to no more than one per day, if at all, and the neurostimulator is seldom used. The conclusion, in my case, is simple: exercise for lower back pain brings relief!

Understanding what causes joint pain is important as it helps you to be better able to prevent and lesson joint pains. Fortunately there are many joint pain relief treatments to enable you to lead a normal life and to enjoy everyday activities, and depending on the cause of the pain, relief can be either temporary or permanent.

Joint pain causes can vary, and can be related to many conditions other than Arthritis. Our joints are cushioned by cartilage and supported by muscles, tendons and ligaments. Everyday activity, aging, injury, obesity and repetitive motion all place stress on the joints and will ultimately cause the supporting structures to wear down over time. Common causes include unusual exertion or overuse of joints including strains or sprains, injury (including fracture), Gout (especially found in the big toe), Tendonitis, Bursitis and Lupus. Causes can also include infectious diseases such as Influenza, Measles, Rheumatic Fever, Hepatitis, German Measles and Chickenpox. When joint pains strike, sufferers are often thrown off balance and made to change their daily routine because of the nature of the pains. Adopting proper health and diet routines can also help delay the need to look for joint pain relief.

Let's look at joint pain causes as they directly relate to Arthritis.

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints caused by wear and tear, injury or any infection. There are over 100 different types of Arthritis - all cause pain and swelling and limit movement in joints and connective tissue. This inflamed condition of the joints is mostly seen in the elderly people. It comes from two Greek words, athron meaning joints and itis meaning inflammation. It affects almost half of the population of the world and, in the United States alone, approximately 50 million people suffer from one type of arthritis. Arthritis is more common than cancer and heart problems although does not have the level of fatalities associated with these conditions.

Osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder, results from the loss of bone tissue from the joints and is also known as "wear and tear" Arthritis. Osteoarthritis involves growth of bone spurs and degeneration of cartilage at a joint. The symptoms usually occur in middle age and it quite common in adults older than 50 years of age. Interestingly as the age of the sufferer increases the occurrence is more likely in women, and there are many studies on the association between Osteoarthritis and Menopause. It is mainly related to aging but other factors such as a person's metabolism and genetic history can all be an influence. Often patients who have a history of taking certain types of medication, such as cortisone, can also be more susceptible.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the joints resulting in stiffness and pain. Normally our bodies are very efficient at taking care of keeping viruses and the like at bay, but when the immune system malfunctions it confuses healthy tissue for foreign substances and the body attacks itself. Ligaments and tendons that join the bones and muscle become inflamed and the result is pain in the effected joint. Rheumatoid Arthritis can be quite effectively treated with medications, although some of the treatments can have side effects that are difficult to manage. This disease can occur at any age but is most likely to occur in women. The course and the severity of the illness can vary considerably, with some sufferer's being pain free for years while their medication is working efficiently. Infection, genes, and hormones may contribute to the disease.

Both Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis are major contributors to joint pain causes.

The goal of a well balance diet and proper nutrition is to provide every nutritional requirement of the body. Every time you eat, your main goal should be not only to satisfy your hunger or craving but to give your body what it needs. But for people who are suffering arthritis and other similar or related disorders, some nutrients are more essentially needed. These nutrients are Omega-3 fatty acid, calcium and vitamins C, D, E and B complex. By no means do these six supplements for arthritis provide definite cure. However, they significantly improved the heath status of arthritis sufferers.

Before including these supplements for arthritis in your diet or medication regimen, it's important that you understand how each contribute to halting the progression and development of arthritis and other related disorders. The succeeding sections discuss this more deeply as it is based on grounded research.

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acid

Fatty Acids are essential substances that are not naturally produced by the body. You can only get them from dietary sources like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and trout. They are also found in nuts, beans, green leafy vegetables and soy products. Omega-3 is significant for arthritis since they form substances like leukotrienes which are the ones that stop inflammation in the body common among arthritis sufferers.

2. Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium works hand in hand with Vitamin D in forming and maintaining skeletal structures and bones in the body. Since brittle bones increases the risk for rheumatoid arthritis, ensuring stronger bones by consuming appropriate amounts of calcium from the diet and exposing yourself to the sun to activate Vitamin D is essential.

3. Vitamin C and E

Vitamins C and E are essential antioxidants in the body. They function to remove free radicals which are destructive to different tissues in the body especially bones and joints. Moreover, vitamin C is significant in the formation of collagen, a major component of joints and bones. On the other hand, vitamin E has protective effects on joints. However, its effects are less potent than Vitamin C. Vitamin C and E are considered as major supplements for arthritis.

4. Vitamin B Complex

People with arthritis are known to have Vitamin B complex deficiencies. This is because the body uses more of it during inflammation. Therefore, you must replace the lost vitamin B complex through diet or supplementation. Also, Vitamin B complex is important in protein synthesis in cartilages.

Most of the above mentioned supplements for arthritis can be derived from your diet. It is fairly easy and convenient. However, it requires patience and willingness in order to become effective. For more satisfying outcomes and result, you must engage yourself in steps that will help you become more self reliant and responsible in consuming these nutrients whether in your diet or through oral supplementation.

Disease is just nature's way of telling you your body is too acidic. Return it to a more alkaline state and nature will reward you with the healing you deserve. However, you must detoxify yourself to begin this journey. Alkaline water helps to cleanse you naturally, easily and continuously by neutralizing the excess acids in your body. Rheumatoid arthritis, though it is a disease, it is only a symptom that tells you your body is out of balance.

Think of your body as a fish tank and your cells and organs as the fish. When you feed the fish, the food is carried to them through the water. They eat the food, use it for energy and eliminate the waste back out. Over time, if you don't change the water in the fish tank the fish get sick and die.

Your body is similar to a fish tank. You are made up of 70% water, much of which is called interstitial fluid that carries nutrients to your cells. Your cells use those nutrients for food and then eliminate the waste back out into your fluid. Over time, your interstitial fluid becomes dirty, acidic and toxic. It's like needing to change the water in the fish tank. You have to clean up, detoxify the fluid in your body and maintain that detoxified state in order for your body to run efficiently. The fact that you have rheumatoid arthritis is a clear sign that your body is too acidic and too toxic. It is more acid than alkaline-it is out of balance.

HOW ALKALINE ANTIOXIDANT WATER WORKS TO DETOXIFY YOU NATURALLY

Drinking alkaline water helps to neutralize the acids that your body creates when it metabolizes food (especially acidic food), pollution and other contaminants. Rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases love an acidic toxic environment. Clean up the environment and arthritis won't want to stay.

What goes in must come out. Alkaline water bathes your cells allowing them to absorb nutrients and flush the metabolic waste back out more efficiently. This allows you to detoxify resulting in a body that functions properly, a body that is not tired or crippled with arthritis pain.

Drinking Alkaline water helps you maintain a slightly alkaline state the way nature intended. Your cells and organs function at their optimum level in a slightly alkaline body. Rheumatoid arthritis feeds on acid. Starve your disease and you will be amazed at the positive outcome!

Water is our most basic substance, is a natural purifier and it is more important than food or any supplement that you could consume. Consume the right kind and it can help your body heal from just about any disease, chronic illness, infection or ailment. Alkaline antioxidant water is "living water." It has the properties of the purest health-giving water found in nature before the earth was polluted.

The joint in the hip, scientifically known as the acetabulofemoral joint, is a ball-and-socket joint that attaches the leg to the torso of the body. It functions primarily to support the entire weight of the body in both static, like standing, and dynamic, such as walking or running postures. Pain over this joint structure is common in all ages but appears more often in people who are over 40 years of age as a result of aging. As a person ages, the joints, muscles and tendons become weaker and tend to lose elasticity and strength. This makes the person vulnerable to various injuries that can result to hip pain. Any disease or injury that causes inflammation to the spaces in between hip joints will result to the stretching of hip capsules, which leads to pain.

Hip fracture is the most common reason for hip pain. Fractures are usually due to falls, which is commonly due to aging. In aged individuals, osteoporosis and loss of balance are common which can result to accidents such as falls. Hip fractures are serious cases requiring prompt treatment and management. Usually fractures happen at the proximal or upper part of the femur. During these instances, it is necessary to identify the precise location of the fracture so that the clinician will be able to know the type of operation needed to repair the injury. Aside from falls, any trauma can potentiate hip fractures. A portion of the pelvis may be fractured in these cases.

The initial pain caused by hip fractures may be in, but is not limited to, the hip area. There are instances in which, although there is the presence of hip pain, experts are not able to detect problems in the hip area. Diagnostic exams and imaging studies such as x-rays do not reflect problems in the hip, but other health problems like hernia, sciatica, meralgia paresthetica. In this case, hip pain is known only as referred pain. Other traumatic injuries that can lead to hip joint pain include contusions or bruises, overuse injuries, and hip bursitis. Any health condition that can cause systematic inflammation like synovitis or inflammation of the lining of the hip joints, in the body can affect the condition of the hip joints.

Osteoarthritis is known as the most common cause of hip pain in people over the age of 50. Other types of arthritis, which are also known to cause hip pain, include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Several other possible factors that can lead to hip pain include osteonecrosis, trochanteric bursitis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis and infection. Although hip pain may indicate serious complications, it is still necessary to perform certain home methods that will help alleviate pain. Examples of these methods are rest, warm or cold compress, stretching exercises, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Patients with knee pain now comprise of at least 30 percent of Orthopaedic practice in urban population. The clinical presentation varies from subtle knee pain arising after activity to severe incapacitating pain which limits the activity of an individual to household.

Osteoarthritis Knee usually affects men and women in their fifties or sixties. It has a genetic predisposition, but more important factors are excessive weight, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, previous trauma. The importance of weight reduction and regular activity can not be over-emphasized. Most patients offer pain as the limiting factor in their willingness to comply with the physiotherapy and exercise regimen.

Osteoarthritis develops due to progressive loss in the cartilage layer of the articular surface, mediated by chemical markers like Interleukins; and by lack of glycoproteins in the synovial fluid. Gradually, the two articular surfaces come in contact with each other, and the pathology migrates from a chemical to purely mechanical one.

Radiographs serve an important role in diagnosis. Loss of joint space and formation of osteophytes makes for an easy diagnosis.

Early Osteoarthritis knee wherein the joint space is still preserved, and there is minimal osteophyte formation; can be successfully managed with painkillers and Supplementation of Inflammtory marker inhibitors. The role of Glycosaminoglycans is debatable.

In patients who present with moderate to severe pain, there is limited role of Arthroscopic joint lavage; wherein the joint is entered via two small 1 cm incisions, and the interior is visualized with a camera. this offers a short term relief, but provides a good alternative for patients who are medically unfit to undergo major operations.

Patients with severe arthritis, are usually offered Joint Replacement as a definitive solution. The most important factor in the success of a knee replacement is good patient selection. A patient with good compliance for physiotherapy and having a knee pain which is substantially limiting his quality of life is a good candidate for surgery.

The availability of technology has made knee replacement one of the commonly performed surgeries in Orthopaedic practice. The options include a Unicondylar knee Replacement or a Total Knee Replacement. The former is advocated for patients with a single compartment involvement, and those with mild deformities. Total knee Replacement is offered for a bi- or tri- compartmental arthritis.

The technical options among the various types of Knee replacement implants include- (a) Cruciate Substituting, (b) Cruciate retaining. The former involve resection of the Anterior Cruciate ligament and substitution by an inbuilt mechanism in the implant design. The latter involves retention of the Anterior Cruciate ligament. Rotating platform designs are also popular these days.

The important judgment regarding the various types depends on the status of knee deformity, and the functional status of ligaments.

Total Knee replacement is one of the commonly performed surgeries today. The note of caution need to be exercised both on the part of the patient and the treating surgeon to restrain the influence of market forces in making the correct judgment. Total knee replacement offers significant improvement in the patient's status, provided the selection criteria are strictly adhered to. A few complications that need special mention include- Deep vein thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism, Infection, Implant Loosening.

Alfalfa is known to be the most versatile verb with great nutritional value. This leguminous herb precisely grows up to 60 cms in height. It is found to have green leaves and purplish colour flowers.

In ancient times this particular herb was well known as the "kings of kings" of plants and the "father of all foods" by Arabs. However, the Persian acknowledged it to be the healing grass of many health ailments.

This herb is enriched with major source of vitamins such as A, B, C, D, E, G and K. Along with this, it provides the valuable source of magnesium, calcium, chlorine, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and silicon.

According to US Department of Agriculture revelations alfalfa contains more protein in the form of arginine, lysine, theronine and tryptophane than grains like corn and wheat. It also found to have the rich source of dietary fibre and chlorophyll.

The leaves, stems and seeds of alfalfa herb is widely used for treating so many health problems such as asthma, high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, upset stomach diabetes and a bleeding disorder known as thrombocytopenic purpura.

Let us go through some of these ailments in detail:

Dropsy: It is mainly referred to state of excessive accumulation of fluid in the body. The consumption of alfalfa herb which is diuretic in nature by way of leaves, stem or seeds in desired quantity nay help in balancing the excessive fluid in the body. Furthermore it also helps in treating the inflammation of bladder effectively.

Heart Diseases: To cure numerous problems related to arterial or heart it is advised to consume the juice of this herb duly mixed with one glass of carrot juice daily to have beneficial results.

Stomach Disorder: To treat various problems related to stomach distress it is advised the seeds of this herb should be consumed like sprouts. To treat hyperacidity the consumption of tea made by mixing this herb with few mint leaves after meal is very beneficial.

Arthritis: The seeds of this herb work like a magic in treating the arthritic pains of the body. It is advised that near about seven cups of tea made by using this herb should be consumed one time a day for at least 15 days to have beneficial results.

Hair Disorders: It is advised that the juice of alfalfa mixed with one glass carrot and lettuce juice should be consumed one time a day to have the remarkable growth of the hair.

High Blood Pressure: This herb proves to be an effective remedy for high blood pressure. The consumption of this herb in the diet may help in softening of the hardened arteries and improves the blood flow in the body.

You use this herb in numerous in numerous ways in your dietary food. The seeds of the plant can be consumed like sprouts. Its leaves can be consumed by way of salad or soups. This can also be consumed in the form of extract or juice. It can also be drunk as tea which is prepared by boiling its seeds for one hour in required quantity of water. Later on this decoction is strained off and cooled down and consumed by mixing 1 tsp of honey.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common arthritis forms with more than 12 percent of Americans suffering from joint pain. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that covers the bone is damaged. The pain usually occurs in knees, hips, fingers, and hands. Women over fifty suffer from this pain the most. Osteoarthritis treatment can be carried out in various ways. It can be handled with medication such as acetaminophen or pain relief drugs. For a more natural treatment, supplements can be used. Supplements work by slowing down the osteoarthritis. Another treatment is by using therapy and exercise. Osteoarthritis seems like a simple joint problem, but actually it can be very painful and troubling. If the osteoarthritis is at a severe level, surgery can be carried out as a final solution.

Even though osteoarthritis treatment is always developed so people can have osteoarthritis-free life, it is always better if we take preventative actions so we do not have to face the problem in the future. The prevention of osteoarthritis can be simple; all we need to do is lead a healthy life. Since overweight is one of the major osteoarthritis causes, then controlling out weight can help us to prevent osteoarthritis. Being overweight is a physical stress on our bodies. We need to remove this stress immediately by dieting and do disciplined exercise. Another way to prevent osteoarthritis is by moving our body. We can do exercise, dance, or something that allows our body to move. Simple things like walking can be a solution as well.

Another preventative action that we can do so we do not have to undergo arthritis treatment is controlling our food consumption and adding beneficial substances like omega 3, olive oil, and other to our diet. Last, but not least, we should never shock our bodies like moving suddenly or lifting heavy items suddenly. Such action can shock out bodies and cause osteoarthritis in the future. One simple conclusion that we can get from the prevention methods above is leading a healthy lifestyle. With a healthy life that includes exercise and healthy food consumption, osteoarthritis or other diseases will have less of a chance of harming our bodies.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, meaning it is a gradual deterioration of cartilage. This degeneration generally occurs in the larger weight-bearing joints. It is a normal wear and tear of the joints due to use, which occurs most generally after age 55. There is no cure, and the most common treatment for pain associated with osteoarthritis is aspirin. You should know that natural health remedies are a better way to treat osteoarthritis.

By age 80 approximately 90% of all people will suffer from this degenerative form of arthritis. Even if there is no inflammation cartilage may begin to crack and flake due to overuse or injury. In the worst instances the bone can become deformed, and scar tissue may replace damaged cartilage. If you begin to restrict movement in your joints due to pain your muscles will atrophy.

The best treatment is to reduce weight from the affected joints. This can be accomplished by using a walking stick, losing weight, and purchasing a bed that properly conforms to the shape of the body, as well as getting frequent rest. Regular exercise will maintain muscle strength.

Aspirin or other nonprescription pain reliever are most commonly used to treat osteoarthritis. The negative side affects of these drugs may be motivation enough to consider natural alternative health remedies for your pain. Large doses of aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, decreased blood folic acid, and increased urinary loss of vitamin C. An often overlooked side effect of both aspirin and other nonprescription pain relievers is the inability to repair cartilage and their tendency to increase cartilage destruction.

Most people are deficient in the essential fatty acid Omega 3 (see our article "Essential Fatty Acids, Omega 3 and Their Effects on Heart Health, Gout, and Blood Pressure"). Omega 3 has been found to be many times more effective in relieving pain without the negative side effects. Since you most likely need to add Omega 3 to your diet anyway it is recommended that you use Omega 3 to treat your pain.

Finally, a substance that naturally occurs in joint structure is glucosamine. Glucosamine has been found to create cartilage components, and employ a protective effect against the destruction of your joints. Said more simply, Glucosamine may help in the protection and repair of your ailing joints. Several studies have indicated that glucosamine relieves pain as well as or possibly better than harmful drugs like aspirin, or other nonprescription pain relievers.

The use of drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis is merely a treatment of symptoms and the drugs carry possible negative side effects. The use of natural, alternative health measures like Omega 3 fatty acid and glucosamine not only treat the symptoms but they enhance your body's natural healing abilities. Give your body a chance to strengthen itself with the use of natural health alternatives.

The condition termed as arthritis of the eyes is known as Uvetis. Uvetis can be caused by a lot of factors, although the most definite one that triggers a particular attack is hard to pinpoint. It is believed that the eyes have a lot in common with joints and the knees, as these body parts are self-contained. By being self-contained, it means that these body parts have definite boundaries that create cavities that are filled with fluids, spaces, and connective tissues.

Most cases of eye arthritis have a lot to do with poor diet. Studies also show that smoking may trigger this disease as well. But links with other health conditions such as headaches, infections, and injuries are associated with it too. If a person has a weak immune system, it is also possible that it could have been the point of origin of their eye arthritis.

To prevent eye arthritis, the following steps can be performed:

Undergo eye exams. Every time you feel that there's something wrong with your eyes, such as if you feel that your eyes are painful, you should go to the doctor and have them checked. Headaches are also a sign of eye arthritis. Therefore whenever your episodes of headache are becoming frequent, don't waste time and consult with a health expert right away.

Take medications at the onset of symptoms. One of the common symptoms of eye arthritis would be dry eyes. For such cases, apply topical eye drops to relieve the pain. But before doing so, make sure that the medicine you are using is prescribed by your doctor. The most effective eye drops in the market today are the ones that contain betamethosone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone. Never self-medicate. It is mandatory that you determine what type of eye medication is best for your health problem. That's the only effective way to treat the disease.

Avoid using contact lenses. Those who are suffering from eye arthritis should make sure that they never use contact lenses at all. Contact lenses are known to make the eyes dry out to some degree. If contact lenses are used all the time, then the possibility of triggering eye arthritis will increase.

Use sunglasses to protect the eyes. The use of the right type of sunglasses is going to be beneficial to eye arthritis patients. When the correct type of sunglasses are worn, the eyes won't be subjected to conditions that could set off eye arthritis. There are sunglasses that can protect the eyes. But there are also sunglasses that can be harmful because they do not use the right type of materials. If you have eye arthritis, be sure to invest on a good pair of sunglasses.

Take oral medications. There are times that oral medications are required to address the pain caused by eye arthritis. Sometimes, the pain becomes too unbearable that oral anti-inflammatory drugs need to be prescribed. For these cases, tell your doctor that mere eye drops are not sufficient to make the pain go away. Ask him to give you oral medications to supplement the effects of the eye drops.

Surgery. Should your case of eye arthritis be on the advanced level, try to consider surgery, especially if your doctor had already suggested it. Surgery has its pros and cons. Make sure that you weigh them first and take them into consideration when you make your decision. Also, ask your doctor to explain to you the entire process and all the possible effects when you choose to undergo it. This way, you will know what to expect after the procedure.

These are the different ways to prevent, and possibly cure, eye arthritis. Eye arthritis is a medical condition that should not be ignored. The moment you know that you have it, take immediate action so that you can avoid the pains associated with it.

When the body is immersed in water, there is less strain on the weight bearing joints, and this gives a feeling of comfort, relaxation and lightness of being. This takes place in both cold and hot water. Professional hydrotherapy for arthritis, however, is typically carried out in a hot pool. It has been known since before Roman times that water therapy can bring benefit and relief for arthritis. Hydrotherapy was developed in Austrian in the early 19th century at the water university. Toward the end of that century a Bavarian priest classified the therapeutic uses of water and today some centers still offer it. Today, it is available at many hospitals and clinics.

How it works - Hydrotherapy, an increasingly popular treatment for arthritis conditions of all kinds, works in two distinct but related ways. Firstly, it gives instant relief of pain and a sense of increased wellbeing and, secondly, being immersed in water allows greater joint mobility while you are actually in the water. For this reason, hydrotherapy is almost always combined with gentle exercise while the joints have this increased mobility. After the exercise session, more hydrotherapy encourages the joints and muscles to relax in a soothing, comforting way.

Relaxing in a hot bath is a form of hydrotherapy in itself, but special hydrotherapy pools are available for use by arthritis sufferers. These are hotter than ordinary swimming pools, and are staffed by physiotherapists or other health care professionals who are expert in treating this condition. Specialized care - Hydrotherapy and exercise sessions should be carried out under the supervision of a health care professional. Otherwise, there is a risk that the joints will be exercised beyond their natural capacity, resulting in more harm than good.

For the treatment to be effective, it is important that the water should be at the correct temperature, as water that is too hot or too cold will not be beneficial and may even restrict mobility. This especially applies if a joint is acutely inflamed. In addition, the skin can be damaged by water that is too hot. For this treatment, you need to book a session or course of sessions at a hydrotherapy pool.

A visit to a spa - Some spas and health farms has pools that are adapted for arthritis sufferers. Treatment in adapted pools or baths may be combined with a hot seaweed or mud wrap afterward to reduce inflammation still further. Good luck with your arthritis treatment.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

One of the visually beneficial aspects of omega-3 fish oil is vibrant, youthful looking skin. So what is the connection between omega-3's and healthy skin? One of the main reasons behind this correlation is how omega-3 affects blood vessels and the blood vessel supply in a positive way. You are only as old as your blood vessels. The more omega-3 you have in your diet, the more blood supply you have to the skin and the healthier your skin will look.

Omega-6, another form of omega's that we get from animal sources that is very prevalent in our diets, is pro inflammatory. These omega's are devastating because they cause inflammatory reactions and these reactions can take place both in the skin and other places in your body.

This inflammation manifests itself on the skin with blemishes and becomes aggravated from sun exposure. We continuously create conditions of inflammation that our bodies must fight to heal. We can modulate the inflammation with omega-3's. By keeping the blood vessels and the capillaries to the skin more open and with a better blood supply, we have better skin.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that affects between two and three percent of people. An estimated 7.5 million Americans and about 150 million people worldwide suffer from this disease. Patients with psoriasis have redness, plaques and scales that affect the skin. Depending on the person, the area affected may be small or very large. The usual symptoms are itching and burning of the skin. Between 10 and 30 percent of patients also go on to develop psoriatic arthritis, another condition where inflammation plays a major role.

There are studies showing that fish oil can reduce the symptoms of psoriasis. In one study, 28 patients were divided into two groups. One received 10 capsules of fish oil, while the other took 10 capsules of olive oil. After just eight weeks, there was a "significant lessening of itching, erythema (redness), and scaling in the treatment group" and no change in the olive oil group. There was also a trend toward an overall decrease in body surface area affected.

Atopic dermatitis is another inflammatory skin condition. It is also called eczema. The word dermatitis means skin inflammation. Atopic has to do with allergy but without direct contact with the substance that causes the allergic reaction. For example, poison ivy can cause dermatitis or skin inflammation after a direct contact. Atopic dermatitis is caused by airborne substances that you inhale or by food that you eat, none of which have direct contact with the skin. People with atopic dermatitis are more likely to have other allergies, from hay fever to asthma. In an acute form of atopic dermatitis (flare or exacerbation), the skin becomes red and extremely itchy. Vigorous scratching usually creates swelling, cracking, and a "weeping" of clear fluid. As the activity declines, there may be crusting and scaling. In some people the skin may look almost normal between the flare -ups. It is more common in children, but affects about one to two percent of adults, some severely. Omega-3 acids would be expected to have a beneficial effect on eczema because of their anti-inflammatory activity and studies tend to confirm that.

In one such study, patients with eczema were taking either 10 grams of fish oil or olive oil for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, there was a considerable reduction in scaling, itching and overall severity of the disease. Acne, pimples, and other skin imperfections tend to clear up in people who take fish oil supplements. Even if you do not have any skin problems, taking fish oil will make your skin healthier, smoother, and better looking. Because the skin is a very metabolically active organ, with new cells forming every day, it is especially important to have the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 acids in order to create the correct balance between the inflammatory prostaglandins and the anti-inflammatory ones. Too much omega-6 and the inflammation will dominate, causing redness, dry skin, itching, and so on. Add omega-3's to your diet and your skin will thank you.

If you or someone that you love is afflicted with arthritis pain, you might be at a loss. Before you resort to looking into medications that might have side effects that are as severe as the pain that they are trying to cure, you should look for a natural remedy for arthritis. Herbal remedies are getting a lot more attention and there are many people who have found them to be just as effective as prescription medication; on top of that, the side effects, when they are present at all, are extremely mild. Take a look at some of the remedies that might interest you.

When you are looking for a natural remedy for arthritis, take a look at alfalfa. Alfalfa can be consumed in the form of tea, and it is a folk remedy that can be taken quite easily. It has been shown to reduce swelling and to ease pain. Brewing the tea is quite simple, and is far preferable to taking alfalfa as a powder, which can result in inflammation. To make alfalfa tea, simply put an ounce of alfalfa in a pot and cover it with a quart of water. After boiling it for thirty minutes, you can drain it and then drink it through the rest of the day. In terms of herbal remedies, this is a very mild and very effective one.

Another herb that is considered to be quite a good natural remedy for arthritis is black cohosh. The root of the black cohosh is used in this treatment and it contains substances that make it quite good as an anti-inflammatory as well as an anti-spasmodic. To use black cohosh, you can simply simmer a teaspoon of the root in a cup of boiling water for twenty minutes. After you have strained it, divide it into two doses and take both during the course of the day. It is recommended that you only take the mixture for two to three weeks; then a break of about a week is going to be ideal.

There are many herbal remedies out there, but remember that you don't always need to go to a health store to get them! Sometimes, you can simply head to your local grocery store. Celery, either raw or cooked, is often used to treat inflammation and given the fact that scientists have found more than 25 different anti-inflammatory compounds in this vegetable, it is no wonder. To get the full effect of celery, you can eat it or you can make it into a tea. To make it into a tea, simply take a teaspoon of celery seeds and put it into a cup of boiling water. After covering it and letting it stand for fifteen minutes, you can strain it and drink it. You can drink up to three cups a day if the pain gets bad.

When you are looking for herbal remedies for arthritis, you will find that there are many options that are open to you. Finding the right natural remedy for arthritis that really suits you is something that can be a little difficult, but keep looking. The right herbal solution for you is out there!

There are millions of Americans walking around right now with arthritis in either one or both knees. Just because a person has arthritis does not mean pain will be present, but if it is bothersome what are the best ways to treat it?

Surgery for arthritis of the knee consisting of a joint replacement with an orthopedic surgeon is definitely a last resort. Artificial knee implants are not meant to last forever, and having one may last for 10 to 20 years before it needs a revision. In addition, a recent study performed at multiple VA hospitals throughout the country showed that knee arthroscopy for osteoarthritis were not as great as we once thought for pain management.

Here are 5 methods of treating the arthritis nonoperatively which can help tremendously.

1. Activity avoidance. When arthritis develops, significant stresses through the knee can be very painful either during the activity or for days afterwards. For instance, if you have been an avid jogger for many years, there may come a time where it causes too much pain in your knee which will affect your ability to exercise any walk. If this is the case, the best course of action is to avoid jogging and to switch exercises to something less stressful on the knees such as swimming for biking. That way you still continue to get the muscular and cardiovascular benefits of the activity but without the significant pounding stresses through the area of arthritis.

2. Over-the-counter pain medications- these may become simply a fact of life for individuals with arthritis. When taken properly according to the manufacturer recommendations, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen along with Tylenol can deliver exceptional pain relief for arthritis. It is well-known that there is an inflammatory component to arthritis, so that may explain the beneficial effects of the anti-inflammatories. Narcotic medications for knee arthritis on a chronic basis is a bad idea. However, if taken for an acute flareup they may not be an issue.

3. Physical therapy- one of the well-known methods that has been proven to work well in research studies is physical therapy. This can strengthen the muscles around the arthritic knee and take some pressure off of the arthritic regions. This may allow patients the ability to walk more often, and participate in more recreational activities.

4. Injections- injections of steroids medication do not fix arthritis, and there is some animal research which shows that it may make the arthritis worse by deteriorating cartilage. But if a patient is heading towards a knee replacement anyway, then the injection may prolong the need for surgery and give months of pain relief. They can be repeated every few months. There also some injections of hyaluronic acid which is a large component of synovial fluid anyway. These injections have actually shown significant benefits in a patient's arthritic knee. One of the major studies for the treatment showed 65% good to excellent results at the one-year point.

5. Off loader bracing- knee bracing can work really well to alleviate pain. In the knee, arthritis is commonly affecting one compartment out of the 3 compartments of the knee. Because of this, the knee brace acts to offload that arthritic compartment and may be able to non-operatively relieve a patient's pain. These braces can be a little bit cumbersome but if it can avoid the need for surgery than often times these slight cumbersome nature of the brace is well tolerated compared with the pain relief that is achieved by them.

As mentioned, a knee replacement with an orthopedic surgeon for arthritis is a last resort. Most of these surgeries have excellent outcomes, but they do not last forever so the surgery should be put off as much as possible with these types of treatments.

What do comedienne Lucille Ball, French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Hollywood actress Kathleen Turner and heart transplant specialist Dr. Christiaan Barnard have in common? They all suffered from arthritis, a disabling and crippling disease that affects over 40 million people in the United States alone. Experts say another 20 million people live with the symptoms of arthritis but haven't been diagnosed and have no idea they have the disease.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that yearly arthritis is responsible for over 9,000 deaths, 750,000 hospitalizations, and it limits the activities of over eight million people. The disease costs the nation over $80 billion in medical care and lost wages.

One of the most common forms of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks joint cells, causing chronic inflammation and swelling of the joints. This is the most debilitating form of the disease that can make even the simplest activities - like opening a jar or walking - extremely difficult.

Comedy queen Lucille Ball of "I Love Lucy" fame had rheumatoid arthritis when she was 17 but that didn't stop her from pursuing her dreams. Her first attack came while she was working as a model for Hattie Carnegie's famous dress shop. She felt excruciating pain in her legs and the doctor who saw her said she would probably end up in a wheelchair as a result of the disease. Lucy was later referred to an orthopedic clinic near Columbia University where she was given experimental "horse serum" shots for several weeks that drained her money but didn't stop the pain. Frightened and discouraged, she returned to her parent's home in Jamestown, New York.

"Gradually the pain subsided and finally one day with the support of her father and doctor, Lucy stood up, feeling wobbly and unsteady. Her left leg was now somewhat shorter than her right leg and it pulled sideways. To correct this, she began wearing a 20 - pound weight in one of her black orthopedic shoes. Though Lucy had residual pain she was able to take a part offered her with the Jamestown Players and she later returned to New York City in search of her dreams," said Carol and Richard Eustice - the people behind About.com's Arthritis Guide who both have rheumatoid arthritis as well.

The famous French painter Renoir whose works adorn many museums also battled rheumatoid arthritis that bothered him during the last three decades of his life. He suffered his first attack in 1898 and his joints became severely deformed later.

"In 1904, Renoir weighed only 105 pounds and was barely able to sit. By 1910 he could not even walk using crutches and he became a prisoner in his own wheelchair. His hands were completely deformed, like the claws of a bird. A gauze bandage was used to prevent his fingernails from growing into the flesh. Renoir was unable to pick up a paintbrush at this point and it had to be wedged between his fingers," the Eustices wrote. Still, he continued to paint everyday and produced some of his greatest masterpieces.

Hollywood star Kathleen Turner was so bothered by the pain of rheumatoid arthritis that she had suicidal thoughts and Dr. Christiaan Barnard, who performed the first human heart transplant in 1967, was forced into retirement in 1983 by the disease that had plagued him since youth.

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs in response to a build-up of crystals that are deposited in joints, soft tissue or bone. The crystals are formed as a byproduct of purine breakdown that occur naturally in the body. About 5.1 million Americans are affected by gout. It affects men older than 40 more than women, although after menopause, both men and women are equally affected.

What Causes Gout?

Uric acid is a natural byproduct of purine breakdown which is then eliminated by our kidneys. Our bodies are not very efficient however in eliminating uric acid and thus a build-up occurs which is known as hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia is the precursor to gout although not everyone who has hyperuricemia will get gout for reasons that are not well understood. This uric acid leads to crystal formations that are deposited in joints, bones and soft tissue. These needle-like crystals can cause excruciating pain that is often likened to breaking a bone.

4 Stages of Gout

1. Asymptomatic hyperuricemia

During this period, the person has no symptoms of gout but none-the-less, crystals are deposited and accumulate which then leads to a gout attack. Again, why this occurs in some people with hyperuricemia and not others is not well understood.

2. Acute gout attack

Left untreated, an acute attack resolves spontaneously in 3 to 10 days. It is believed that the inflammation and lower pH that occurs during the attack eventually causes the crystals to dissolve. In addition, some of the crystals become walled-off in tissue while other types of cells known as macrophages may elicit an anti-inflammatory response. Finally, specific proteins are thought to coat the crystals which also suppress inflammation. These processes lead to a resolution of symptoms within 3-10 days.

3. Intercritical period

This is the period between attacks. Generally, about 68% of people will experience another gout attack or flare within the first year, 78% within 2 years and 84% within 3 years. A small minority will never experience another gout attack. During this intercritical period the individual remains pain free despite the fact that damage to the underlying structures can still occur.

4. Advanced Gout

Over time, the persistence of crystals cause chronic low-level inflammation that leads to joint damage and build up of crystal deposits that are known as tophi. These deposits lead to joint erosion and deformities that are clearly evident on X-ray or MRI.

How is Gout Diagnosed?

The gold standard for diagnosis is to take a sample of joint fluid during an acute flare to analyze it for monosodium urate crystals. However this is not always practicable during a medical exam. If the joint is not aspirated, a very detailed history is taken, the affected joint is carefully examined and blood work is ordered because gout can mimic other diseases.That is why it is very important to see your provider during an acute attack.

How is Gout Treated?

During an acute flare, treatment focuses on eliminating pain and disability as quickly as possible. To this end several types of medications can be used. Since inflammation is an underlying condition, medications that target inflammation are often used.

Treatment of advanced gout focuses on reducing the level of uric acid since gout does not occur without hyperuricemia. The goal is to prevent erosive changes to bones, soft tissue and joint spaces that otherwise occur. Talk to your provider about treatment options that are best for you.

Psoriatic Arthritis is another form of arthritis that affects people with psoriasis. This is a chronic disease that is characterized by the inflammation of the joints, and the spine. The skin has a characteristic of patchy raised areas of the skin usually the hands and the feet, the skin is red, shinny and scaly.

Psoriasis commonly affects Caucasians, in fact health statistics show that there are two percent of Caucasians both males and female in the United States alone are suffering from psoriasis. Genetics and environment plays an important role in diagnosing psoriatic arthritis.

Though the causes of having this disease is still not known, doctors believe that this condition can be hereditary or that your body have been exposed with harmful bacteria and viruses in the environment, that is why this disease is triggered. Patients may also develop tendonitis and inflammation around the cartilage, lungs, and eyes. It can also damage the spine, chest bones, and the sacrum, making it hard for the patient to move.

Treatment of this disease is sometimes hard because psoriasis often precedes arthritis for months or even years, or vice versa. Among all patients with arthritis, patients with psoriatic arthritis have the highest emotional stress of all. Because they are not only dealing with the embarrassing fact that they have psoriasis, they also deal with the unending pain of having arthritis. As the pain and swelling flares, daily movements becomes a burden, it interferes with their work, social functions, daily activities and social life. Patients with this kind of disease may feel alone, withdrawn and stressed.

The main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are joint pain, swelling, and stiffness of the muscles. It can affect any part of the body like spine, fingertips, wrist, and feet. Person with this disease also finds it hard to get up in bed in the morning, pain and stiffness usually occurs in the morning after waking up. Patients should be allowed 30 minutes to warm up the body and flex and stretch a little.

People suffering from this disease are easily tired especially in the early afternoon. The signs and symptoms may range from mild to severe disease flare-ups, with periods of remissions and recurrences, which are common among arthritis patients. Stress can trigger flare-ups it is important for patients who have this condition, to learn how to cope up with stress and learn some relaxation techniques.

To date, there is no cure for this kind of disease. Both psoriasis and arthritis are autoimmune disorder. This disorder occurs when the immune system of the body starts to attack healthy cells and tissues instead of harmful viruses and bacteria's. This causes an abnormality, which causes inflammation in the joints and over production of skin cells such as in the case of psoriasis. The medications that are available in the market today only target the swelling, inflammation, and pain.

Learning to cope with this condition is one way of disease management. Exercise and dietary modification is the key to cope up with the disease. Stretching exercises will help the patient in becoming more flexible and increase their strength.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Several clinical studies done in different countries from all over the world have proven that omega-3 fish oils can significantly help reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Some studies have even found that patients were able to reduce their medication.

Omega-3 fish oils are anti-inflammatory, and arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Our modern-day diet consists of too much omega-6 fats, which are actually pro-inflammatory fats.

This is why you have to keep them to a minimum and give your body the omega-3 fatty acids that it requires to reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Scientists have discovered and believe that most people today are deficient in these essential fats.

This has been linked to a lot of different health conditions. The good news is that this is all easy to take care of when you find a high grade supplement.

Here are three steps that can help you find the best omega-3 fish oil's for rheumatoid arthritis.

#1 - Purity

Molecular distillation is a process that will purify omega-3 oil at the molecular level. This will ensure pharmaceutical grade quality and safety for long-term use. I always make sure that omega-3 supplement that I buy has been molecularly distilled.

#2 - Quality

If you want a high-quality product, you should look at what fish are used in the supplement. For example, a recent clinical trial discovered that if you blend tuna and hoki into the same omega-3 fish oils, you can enhance the health benefits by up to 2 and a half times compared to other supplements.

#3 - Price

With omega-3 fish oils being among the best selling nutritional supplements in the world today, it naturally attracts companies that are just in it to make a quick profit. Don't worry though, these are easy to avoid by making your comparisons and looking for products that have a fair price. I personally pay under $20 for a month's supply of high grade omega-3's.

A few years ago, during my nursing career, I accidentally discovered how to get rid of my arthritis pain, naturally, without any conventional arthritis treatment. I got rid of my arthritis symptoms and arthritis pain forever by making changes in my diet.

Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joint cartilage and bone, thought to result from continuous "wear and tear" on a joint and with no known cause. There are other types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, congenital arthritis with congenital defects, the congenital ankylosing spondilitis and other disorders. Arthritic joints usually appear larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel worse throughout the day the more they are used. And osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. When people use the word 'arthritis' they usually mean osteoarthritis.

Cartilage contains a high percentage of water, but that decreases with age. The joints are uniquely designed to provide flexibility, support, stability, and protection. The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during any muscle movement.

The first step in arthritis is to change your diet to a diet of raw foods that is living foods or plant foods, preferably uncooked; predominately fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. When I started eating this way from the standard American diet, my arthritis pains disappeared quickly -- within two weeks. After eight years of eating this way, I still have no arthritis pain.

Some people enjoy making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot, but not boiling pure filtered water, steep for a couple of minutes; some people report it's helpful as an arthritis treatment.

Try rubbing or massaging your fingers or other affected joints with organic. virgin coconut oil once or twice a day. Many people have reported to me that going off of dairy products and all foods containing gluten, like wheat, rye, barley, spelt, triticale and kamut, relieved them of arthritis pain entirely. Some of the inflammatory foods and beverages to avoid are inflammatory are: salt, caffeine, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, sugar, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, trans fats, and refined, packaged and processed food.

Some people swear by a morning cup of pure, filtered hot water with a teaspoon or so of Bragg's raw apple cider vinegar and raw farm honey not raw store honey, to keep them free of any arthritis pain. Some people say that glucosamine and/or chondroitin helps and others say they didn't help at all.

Many people say that cherry extracts, cherry concentrate, especially tart cherries or Montmorency cherries, and dried tart cherries with no sugar, have completely rid them of their arthritis pain and possibly cured them as well.

If you have arthritic hands- keep a basket of arthritic treatment aids handy (Thera-putty, hand grips, Taiji Chinese chime balls, etc.) to use at bedtime or while you're watching television. Exercise all of your affected and unaffected joints every day, to keep them flexible. If weight is an issue for you, try to use exercises that will help you with both your arthritis and in weight loss, such as walking. At bedtime you can try putting on a pair of stretch gloves to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers if you have arthritic hands. One doctor I know used to sleep in a sleeping bag and raved about how it relieved his arthritis pain.

Your body has 147 joints that are in motion each and every day so keep them moving! Slow stretching and warming up the joints should be the first step in any exercise routine to make your joints more flexible. Be careful in the morning because you may need an hour or more of moving around a bit first. Start by moving your arms and legs around while you're in bed for a few minutes before you get out of bed. Having a good exercise routine will help beat arthritis pain so keep moving.

When you become completely informed about your type of arthritis you'll be able to plan your own arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination. Be aware that using pain relievers like NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors do not stop the progression of osteoarthritis. Medications or drugs used for arthritis pain can cause ulcers, heart disease, liver or kidney damage. Some people with severe arthritis actually get addicted to pain killers.

When you know all that you can about arthritis and osteoarthritis and what you can do for pain relief it'll help contribute to your relief of arthritis pain and possibly help you get rid of arthritis forever. Your treatment plan could include an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis diet, plenty of movement, exercise, and always a positive mental attitude. Begin your treatment program now with a healthy diet change, the right exercise and best weight loss plan to see quick results and arthritis pain relief.

Over time joint cartilage simply starts to degenerate, leading to loss of joint mobility and many times pain. Osteoarthritis in dogs is characterized by thinning of cartilage, buildup of fluid within the joint, and the formation of bony outgrowths around the joint. Joint degeneration can be brought about by a number of reasons factors, including: trauma, the body's own immune system, infection, or birth related disorders. Joint degeneration leads to inflammation, and abnormal joint function.

Signs of osteoarthritis in dogs include joint swelling, lameness, wasting away of muscle, and thickening and scarring of he joint membrane. Over time a large amount of joint damage can be done leading to the dreaded bone on bone grating sound. If X-rays are required they should reveal an increase in fluid within the joint, soft tissue swelling around the joint, soft tissue swelling around the joint, the formation of bony outgrowths, hardening and thickening of bone beneath the cartilage, and sometimes a narrowed joint space.

Treatment can include medication, surgery, or natural supplementation. Prescription drugs commonly prescribed are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation. While these drugs are initially helpful they can sometimes cause gastrointestinal problems such as lack of appetite, vomiting, and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Corticosteroids are another option for curbing inflammation, but they too may produce unwanted side effects if taken over a long period of time. You should consult your veterinarian to gain a better understanding of the risk involved with prescription dog osteoporosis medications.

On occasion surgery may be the only alternative, especially if the osteoporosis is in its advanced stages or if joint trauma is involved. Surgical options include joint fusion, joint replacement, cutting of the joint, and even amputation. The prognosis will depend on the severity of the joint disease and the location of the damaged joint.

Natural supplementation has been shown to be helpful in regenerating cartilage and bone without the unintended consequences. There are currently some excellent natural health options available which can be taken as stand alone remedies or in addition to conventional dog osteoarthritis medications. These alternative treatment options for dog osteoarthritis are definitely worth investigating further.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory form of arthritis and affects approximately two million Americans. It is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by abnormal function of the immune system. For whatever reason (and that reason is still unknown), the immune system attacks healthy tissue. In rheumatoid arthritis, joint tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles, are attacked and become inflamed. Symptoms that develop include painful, swollen, tender joints. The small joints in the hands and feet are the most commonly affected. Other prominent symptoms include fatigue and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease meaning it attacks many different organ systems. One organ system that can be affected are the blood vessels. This inflammation of blood vessels is called vasculitis. It is especially dangerous because vessels carry blood throughout the body: to the brain, lungs, skin, kidneys, and heart. "Shutdown" of organs occurs. Why? As the inflammation of the blood vessels progresses, the blood vessels are no longer able to transport blood.

A sidebar to this is the eye involvement that can occur. Inflammation of the sclera- the white part of the eye- can lead to blindness as a result of perforation or hemorrhage.

An interesting side light to this is that several studies provide evidence that long-term smoking contributes to the immune system's malfunctioning. This most likely explains why smoking is associated with increased severity of the disease. This is also why smoking and rheumatoid arthritis make a terrible combination. Smoking causes premature atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis does also.

If untreated, rheumatoid arthritis significantly shortens life span by an average seven to eight years. It increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. Sixty percent of untreated patients are disabled and dependent on others to take care of them within 10 years. One other factor that contributes to the shortened lifespan is the increased incidence of lymphoma that occurs in patients with RA.

Can our diet affect us if we have any form of arthritis? While conventional medicine doesn't put a lot of emphasis on what we eat, alternative medicine sites diet as one of the main contributors to our health or lack of it. This is definitely something to consider as we all have experienced pain or pleasure when we eat certain foods.

If you suffer from arthritis, you have probably heard that the nightshade group of vegetables should be avoided. These include potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. In general, however, it is important that we put alkaline forming food into our bodies and don't over indulge in the acidic forming foods. The acidic foods are often the ones we eat on a daily basis. Meat, coffee, processed foods, sugary foods are really not a good idea if you have arthritis.

Milk and dairy are acid forming when metabolized in our bodies and although we have been told to drink our milk to get strong bones, in actual fact the only strong bones it can get are those in cows. Milk and dairy consumed by humans, on the other hand can cause our bodies to release the alkaline calcium which has been stored in our bones to leave the bones in order to combat excessive acidity in our system. As you can imagine, over time this means that our bones can become brittle and even break.

Recently milk and dairy has been put under the microscope as far as arthritis is concerned and the results don't look good. First of all, cows are unfortunately subjected to many forms of grain which isn't in their natural diet (which should consist of grass and hay). Today's cows consume genetically modified soy and corn as well as pesticides and antibiotics. What they consume is, of course, passed on to their milk. No wonder that milk and dairy aren't among the best of foods for your body.

In fact there was a study involving rabbits where by switching their usual water to milk, caused these rabbits to get joint swelling. Also, in another study (no rabbits this time) when participants eliminated milk and dairy products they experienced more than a 50% reduction in pain and swelling of their arthritis. Food for thought...

If that isn't enough, milk and dairy produce mucous in our body which means we have a greater chance of coming down with a cold and can generally contribute to respiratory disorders. The same is true of allergies and hay fever - if you get them try avoiding milk and dairy to see if your symptoms improve. It has often been said that your body knows best!

After all is said and done, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Why don't you try eliminating milk and dairy from your diet for a month or two. You will soon see if this works to reduce your arthritis pain and joint swelling or if it makes no difference.

Various types of arthritic conditions can be experienced by anyone and most of these usually result to permanent damages to the joints, bones, organs and skins. Some of the most debilitating arthritic conditions include the following:

* Osteoarthritis: this is known as a degenerative disease of the joints that causes it to wear and tear. This condition usually affects the joints that bear the weight, such as the hips, knees, feet, spine and the base of the thumb. Genetic and mechanical factors are the main culprits of this condition, although trauma, obesity, repetitive usage of the joints and trauma are considered as risk factors as well.

* Rheumatoid Arthritis: this type of arthritic condition occurs when the immune system attack the synovial membrane by mistake, thus resulting to swelling, stiffness and pain in the joint. This autoimmune condition can be disabling and may become chronic as it progresses. The early diagnosis of this condition can be difficult since the indications are often subtle during the initial phase and are aggravated gradually.

* Psoriatic Arthritis: this is almost identical to rheumatoid arthritis since this too is considered as an autoimmune condition. Psoriatic arthritis often afflicts individuals suffering from psoriasis. In this condition, the joints become inflamed, painful and swollen and if left untreated, the affected joint may become crippled.

* Gout: this arthritic condition is often due to abnormal metabolism of uric acid within the body that results to the deposition of acid crystals into the joints, specifically on the big toe, thus causing it to redden, swell and become painful.

* Juvenile Arthritis: all forms of arthritic condition that afflict children are considered as juvenile arthritis. The most common form among all these is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which is categorized into three: pauciarticular, which is focused on several joints, polyarticular that affects various joints in the body, and systemic where almost all joints or the entire body is afflicted. The condition is diagnosed if the presented symptoms last for more or less 6 weeks.

* Infectious Arthritis: this arthritic condition is due to the invasion of viruses, fungi or bacteria. For instance, septic arthritis may occur due to an infection caused by bacteria, tuberculous arthritis, on the other hand, may occur due to tuberculosis, viral arthritis is due to a viral infection, gonococcal arthritis is experienced when afflicted with gonorrhea and fungal arthritis is obviously due to a fungal infection.

* Ankylosing Spondylitis: this, on the other hand, is considered as a chronic disease and is highly inflammatory that usually affected the spinal column. Ankylosing spondylitis may lead to the fusing of the vertebrae that result to a rigid spine. One common symptom of this condition is low back pain and is accompanied by stiffness that may go on for several months. This type of arthritis usually affects men between the ages of 16 and 35, although women can be afflicted with this condition as well.

* Polymyalgia Rheumatica: this usually affects people once they reached the age of fifty. Polymyalgia rheumatic may result to stiffness and severe aching of the neck, hips and shoulders. Since there are other health conditions with the same manifestation, this can be difficult to diagnose accurately.

* Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: this is a known autoimmune disorder that usually affects the body system along with various internal body organs. Systemic lupus usually occurs in women during their childbearing years and because this condition is life threatening, it is necessary to diagnose it immediately for early treatment.

These are some of the most prevalent types of arthritis in men, women and children. In case you are experiencing any of the conditions mentioned above, make sure to consult your physician immediately for an accurate diagnosis.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Rheumatoid arthritis and all related types of inflammatory arthritis, including psoriatic and reactive, are very complicated diseases to unlock, but there are a few areas that can be tremendously helpful to look into. Even today there is no established cure for these diseases, and the medicines that are prescribed are not only dangerous, but act in a way that is a mystery to those prescribing them. So, it's no wonder that many sufferers look to alternative therapies to supplement or replace the established remedies.

There very well might be no cure as yet, but there are many cases of total remission, and to give yourself the best possible chance of being one of those happy people, here are five suggestions of areas to cover in your search for your personal solution...

1. Meditation

I put this first, because it might actually be the key to all the rest. Arthritis is a very depressing illness anyway, but there are theories that the toxins produced by the disease process actually create a state of depression as they circulate in the body.

Obviously a state of depression is not the best starting point for a successful campaign against arthritis, and meditation is one of the very best ways to beat depression and release a few natural endorphins to counteract those toxins and black moods. So, daily meditation might very well be the best way to keep your spirits up and your enthusiasm keen for the detective work ahead of you in your path back to health.

2. Diet and supplements

This is an area that's densely populated with old wives' tales and the charlatan who peddle them. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't some really useful truths out there about the effects of diet and supplementation on the path and severity of arthritis.

Whether you can actually cure arthritis just with diet and a few supplements is debatable, but many claim to have done just that. What is undeniable though is that it is one of the very important pieces of the puzzle, which can make the journey far easier, and which can of course improve other areas of health too, which can't be bad!

One thing is for sure - everybody's requirements for diet will be different, and if you come across any diet plan that says otherwise, run away! So, where to start in figuring out what's good for you and what's not?

There are two areas that can really help in speeding up the process of finding out what's likely to calm arthritis symptoms and what's likely to inflame them, and they are Ayurveda and the blood type diet theory. Ayurveda is an ancient science that groups body types and foods into three types; vata, pitta and kapha, whereas the blood type theory puts forward suggestions about what might be useful depending on your blood group.

Both these areas of investigation can provide very useful clues, and when faced with having to find your food sensitivities with complicated elimination diets and their endless time-consuming possibilities, they can narrow the search considerably.

One last area worth looking at in the realm of diet is fasting, which is a fantastic way to clear out toxins and/or prepare the way for an elimination diet. These fasts can be juice or water, and several days in duration. Intermittent fasting for a day or two a week can also be used to keep the body toxin and inflammation-free in the long term.

3. Exercise

Of course, when in a flare up of arthritis symptoms, some exercise, such as weight training and aerobic activity is not only uncomfortable, or indeed impossible, but can be counterproductive, as it can trigger further flares. It is also very difficult to build up muscles wasted by lack of use and the toxins flooding them from adjacent inflamed joints while the process is still active. Far better to wait until the inflammation has subsided before tackling any serious bouts of such exercise, but as soon as it does, by all means take to the gym or that bicycle and get toned up again!

However, there are exercises that can be beneficial at any point that you feel you can do them, even during a flare, if it's not too uncomfortable. They are the range of motion exercises so important to each affected joint to minimise damage and mobility problems. Yoga is a wonderful way to stay supple too, and is well worth looking at.

Perhaps the very best exercise for arthritics is a gentle, very enjoyable form of movement and stretching called Somatic Movement Education. It is designed to unlock knots in the body and free up energies in the muscles, tendons and joints, and has a very profound effect on the whole nervous system, thus not only bringing relief to the affected areas, but also flooding the system with healing and balancing wellbeing to ease the recovery process.

4. Minimise drugs

In an ideal world, we would get rid of arthritis with natural means, as listed above, and never have to resort to the dangerous drugs that are prescribed to keep the symptoms under control. However, in reality, sometimes it is necessary to hold some of the symptoms in check just to make life tolerable.

If you do use the popular drugs, whether the simple aspirin, or all the way through to steroids and DMARDs, take the attitude of using the minimum necessary for the shortest possible time while you find your own way out of the disease. Educate yourself about these drugs and weigh the positives against the negatives so you can use them with your eyes open!

5. Antibiotics

Finally, and possibly the most important, is the fact that, as many believe, arthritis is not simply a disease where the autoimmune system goes mad and attacks the joints, but that it is a bacterial allergy to mycoplasmas, or forms of bacteria deeply embedded in the tissues and very hard to detect and destroy.

I cannot vouch for this one way or the other, but the pioneer of the reportedly very safe antibiotic treatment used to bring remission to many thousands, Thomas McPherson Brown, MD., has written a book called 'The Road Back', which is a very informed and moving account of his life's work in this field.

I strongly recommend that you investigate The Road Back Foundation's website and read all you can about this incredible breakthrough.